#BeAirAware

What is #BeAirAware?

Environmental Protection have launched Cornwall’s #BeAirAware campaign.

The campaign aims to:

Raise awareness about the causes of air quality problems in Cornwall.
Promote the links between health and active travel.
Work together to improve air quality in Cornwall’s Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) and throughout Cornwall.
Protect Cornwall’s residents from the harmful effects of air pollution.

#BeAirAware has resulted in:

Parking officers trained to give idling advice to motorists whilst on their parking patrols.
Digital roadside messages in six towns telling motorists to switch off their vehicles when stationary.
Testing new indoor and outdoor air quality monitors and indoor air purifiers.
Educating students about air quality in Cornwall, the health impacts and how they can improve their local air quality.
Patrols within towns and outside schools to give advice on idling to drivers.
Engaging with local environmental groups to understand local air quality perceptions and possible solutions.
Produced a 'Burning solid fuel in the home' webpage providing guidance on burning solid fuel in the home.
Cornwall Council in collaboration with Sustrans, have published The Clean Air 4 Kids Toolkit to encourage schools to incorporate air quality in their curriculum and to help raise awareness of air quality issues and promote active travel.
Since the #BeAirAware campaign was launched, air quality in Cornwall has improved. Camelford Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) was revoked in November 2024 and is now listed as an Air Quality Area of Concern (AQAC). Cornwall Council are also in the process of revoking Truro, Grampound, St Austell, Bodmin and Camborne-Pool-Redruth AQMAs and these areas will also be listed as AQACs.

The Mounts Bay Academy project began in 2022, aimed at tackling excessive idling during school pick-up and drop-off times.

This project is ongoing and Mounts Bay Academy have been busy within the last year creating a lasting legacy.

Project Updates:

In June 2024, Mounts Bay Academy collaborated with Devon and Cornwall rail partnership to promote the use of rail in Cornwall. The Air Quality Ambassadors gathered at Penzance railway station where Penzance Town Council and the Town Crier greeted the students. The students travelled from Penzance to St Ives on the train, where they presented their hard work in tackling air pollution to St Ives Council.
There has been ongoing collaboration with Penzance Town Council, including support for a successful funding bid which saw them create banners “Our Health Matters” which were displayed on First Buses for two weeks, raising awareness across the community.
An art exhibition was held at Penlee Gallery themed around clean air, showcasing student creativity and environmental commitment and talks from the ambassadors.
Mounts Bay Academy have partnered with the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership, exploring sustainable travel options and the current work on a new film promoting active travel, specifically designed to engage and influence their peers.

Background of the Project:

Environmental Protection have been working with student air quality ambassadors to deliver their own campaign to tackle vehicle idling.
A survey of the students found that 87% of respondents said they notice cars and buses waiting with their engines running outside their school.
To measure the success of the campaign, concentrations of particulate matter outside the school were measured from August 2022 to August 2023 and analysed by a Masters student.
With the assistance of a local videographer, the student Air Quality Ambassadors have produced a short film titled Unseen which highlights the health impacts of air pollution from vehicle idling.

The town wide Launceston Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) was declared in February 2018.
A traffic survey showed approximately 16,000 vehicles a day use the A388 through Launceston, of which approximately 70% are local trips, or are using services located within the town.
Environmental Protection were successful in receiving funding from the 22/23 DEFRA Air Quality grant.
The grant funded the delivery of a bespoke air quality education programme, initially targeted to eight schools in Launceston, commencing in September 2023.
A dedicated School’s Air Quality Officer recruited by Sustrans successfully engaged with four schools in the Launceston area up to the project end in July 2024
The programme raised awareness of air quality and how active travel to school can be a good alternative to using the car and therefore helped to improve air quality in the Launceston area.
The programme educated those for whom there is no alternative to driving, to encourage switching off of engines when waiting outside schools and also led to over 13% reductions in car travel and around an 8% increase in the use of park & ride/stride within participating schools.
Further information on the project can be found within the Final Evaluation Report

If you would like more information on #BeAirAware, please email publicprotection@cornwall.gov.uk

Last Updated:

17/06/2025

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